After we met for breakfast we headed to the Blue Ridge Parkway toward Cherokee and stopped at an overlook for our first picture taking session.
Left to right:Me, Mrs. Sagebrush (Terrie), 05c50 (Paul) and Mrs. 05c50 (Linda)
We rode through Cherokee on US-19 then to US-74 then to US-19 again. We rode the Nantahala Gorge where the road runs right beside the river and you can see several groups of whitewater rafters on the river as you pass by. We then tackled Wayah Rd. which got the sides of the tires warmed up real good as it is a very twisty road without much traffic. After crossing the mountain on Wayah Rd. we connected with US-64 east at Franklin and headed for waterfall country. We carried a picnic lunch with us and stopped at Dry Falls, located right on US-64, for lunch.
After lunch we headed just up the road to take Paul and Linda's picture under Bridal Veil Falls, again located right on US-64.
From Bridal Veil Falls we passed through Highlands, then Cashier and turned onto Parkway Rd. which took us to the Blue Ridge Parkway again but further north. We rode North past valleys crowded with blue berry pickers and stopped and a great panoramic view.
Another group shot with the view in the background.
In this picture you can make out the Parkway as it winds itself along the ridge.
We exited the Parkway at US-276 and made our way down the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge to Looking Glass Falls.
After Looking Glass Falls we again climbed the Blue Ridge this time crossing the ridge and headed toward Cruso. However, we stopped at the Blue Ridge Motorcycle campground to check out the facilities for future reference and to partake in their pork rib and pulled pork dinner that they put on over holiday weekends. We were quite impressed with both the campground facility and the grub. After dinner we headed back to Maggie Valley where we joined Paul and Linda around the fire ring at their motel where we finished off two bottles of sparkling wine (Champagne).
On Sunday morning after breakfast we again tackled the Blue Ride Parkway from Maggie Valley toward Cherokee. We stopped at a sunnier overlook for a group picture this time
.
From Cherokee we again took the US-19 and US-74 route but this time instead of turning onto US-19 through the Nantahala Gorge we continued on to US-28 and Deal's Gap. The parking lot at the motorcycle resort at Deal's Gap was absolutely slam full. We didn't spend much time there because it was a mad house. Leaving the motorcycle resort we headed west on US-129 and the Tail of the Dragon. The Dragon was uber crowded and we came across one harley rider that ran off the road and was being helped with his bike. This was the first time on the Dragon for both Linda and Terrie. Linda scraped a peg and was very proud of her accomplishment
. Of course it would have been some kind of disaster had Terrie scraped a peg or anything else. From the Dragon we made our way to Tellico Plains to ride the Cherohala Skyway. But before we got started on the Cherohala we decided to have a picnic lunch again near Bald River Falls, located just a short ride from the Skyway.
After lunch we completed the ride on the Cherohala and a coffee and ice cream stop in Robbinsville. After refreshments we made our way to US-19 via US-129 south and another ride through the Nantahala Gorge. We continued on US-19 through Cherokee and back to Maggie Valley. That evening after some brewed refreshment we had a pizza and salad dinner at Snappy's in Maggie Valley. That may have been the best pizza I've ever had. Mmmmmm, scrumptious.
Monday morning and it was time to start heading for home. Paul and Linda loaded the bikes on the trailer and we met for breakfast again. After breakfast Paul and Linda headed home toward Pennsylvania and Terrie and I decided to take the scenic route home. We connected with the Parway again at Asheville and headed north. On the way we stopped for pictures at a scenic overlook and a peek at Grandfather Mountain.
After Grandfather mountain we exited the Parkway at Blowing Rock and headed south on US-321 then US-64 east and home. It was a perfect weekend with good friends and it just doesn't get any better than that.
